F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia cleared after years of to and fro between Washington and Riyadh

After years of controversy, the US has finally given the green light to sell Saudi Arabia a fleet of F-35 stealth fighters, ending a protracted debate over potential diplomatic implications. The State Department recently notified Congress of a proposed sale valued at $24.3 billion, comprising up to 48 F-35A Lightning II jets, along with a range of supporting equipment and services.

This deal includes 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, secure communications and navigation systems, cryptographic equipment, electronic warfare support, spare parts, simulators, training, and extensive logistics support.

The US government asserts that the sale of the advanced fighter jets does not alter the existing military balance in the region, addressing Israeli concerns. However, recent events in the region have further highlighted the need for enhanced defense capabilities. On September 16, Yemen's Houthi movement claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 in the Marib governorate, a claim Saudi Arabia has not officially confirmed.

This incident underscores the vulnerability of Saudi Arabia's aging F-15 fleet against sophisticated Houthi air defenses, prompting Riyadh's strong push for the F-35.

The approval of the F-35 sale comes amid a series of major arms purchases by Saudi Arabia this year, which include a $5 billion bomb deal, a $750 million tank engine package, and a $1.96 billion precision-guidance kit agreement. These purchases reflect Saudi Arabia's broader rearmament strategy in response to an increasingly volatile regional security landscape.

While the congressional approval is still pending, and no contract has been signed, the decision marks a significant shift in US policy towards Gulf Arab nations, a change possibly influenced by mounting battlefield losses that have prompted a reevaluation of defense priorities.